A Syrian Druze leader opposed to President Bashar al-Assad was killed
Saturday in the city of Soueida, the Syrian Waqf Ministry and Druze
Unitarians´ Sect has announced.

Druze Sheikh Ahmed Sleiman (Salman) Al-Hijri´s death was blamed on “a
car accident,” according to the statement released by the Syrian
government´s Syrian News Agency (SANA).

The news, announced in a terse statement devoid of details, was also
immediately reported by the Lebanese Ministry of Information.

One day earlier, Lebanon´s Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, made
headlines by announcing his support for Syria´s anti-government
force. He also called on Russia to find a way to remove Assad and his
family from the picture, and allow the Syrian people to settle their
destiny in dignity and peace.

Assad´s troops have been accused by the New York-based Human Right
Watch organization of using Syrian civilians as human shields as they
advance their war on opposition forces across the nation, now
entering its second year.

Jumblatt also marked the 35th anniversary of the assassination of his
father Kamal Jumblatt Friday. The younger Jumblatt took over his
father´s leadership during the 1975-1990 Lebanese civil war after his
father was shot to death on March 16, 1977.

At that time and for years after, he supported Syrian intervention in
the civil war -- even while blaming Damascus for the deaths of his
father and former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in a massive
2005 car bombing in Beirut that killed 20 others as well. Syria
denied the charges, and Jumblatt later reconciled with Damascus five
years later, but said, “I forgive, but I do not forget.”